What | Alice Springs Races |
Where | Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 |
When | Saturday, April 1, 2023 |
First Race | 1:26pm (ACST) |
Visit Ladbrokes |
There are seven races up for decision at Pioneer Park this Saturday as the sprinters, middle-distance runners, stayers and three-year-olds continue their preparations for the feature races that await during the month of April – which include the Alice Springs Cup, Pioneer Sprint and NT Guineas. It’s an exciting time of year with $152,500 in stakes up for grabs on Saturday.
The only day it rained in March in the Red Centre was on March 4 (0.6mm), but possible showers have been forecast for Friday and Saturday. Partly cloudy conditions and 15-20 km/h winds are tipped for Saturday with a top temperature of 27C after a month of very hot weather. The rail will be in the true position and it will once again be a good dirt surface.
BEST BET: ANKLE ROLEX
The NT Guineas during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival entered the fray when this three-year-old gelding won his first race against Class 2 and maiden performers over 1100m in Darwin on New Year’s Eve. He looked great that day before finishing fifth as a $1.90 favourite over 1200m (0-58) a fortnight later. Taking on the same opposition he faced on December 31 over 1200m on Australia Day, the son of Cable Bay bounced back to win by 6.5 lengths as a $1.30 favourite. After a freshen up, Ankle Rolex returned on March 4 and could only manage a fifth as a $2 favourite over 1100m against three and four-year-old opposition. A $2.20 favourite in his Red Centre debut two weeks ago, the Top End raider proved too good for fellow three-year-olds, winning by 4.8 lengths. Although he is stepping up to the 1400m for the first time, it’s hard to see him losing. A 2kg claim is also a bonus.
Best Bet
Race 5 – #1 Ankle Rolex (1)
3yo Gelding | T: Patrick Johnson | J: Jade Hampson (a)(57kg)
Bet with Bet365
NEXT BEST BET: DANIHER
The three-year-old son of Fighting Sun, a $1.90 earlier in the week, makes his NT debut after having five starts in Victoria for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable at Mornington. After coming second in a 1000m trial for two-year-olds at Moe in January last year for original trainer Clayton Douglas, also based in Mornington, Daniher made his professional debut for the Freedman stable last June when finishing fourth in a $60,000 race for two-year-olds at Mornington. He returned to action in October as a three-year-old and could only manage a sixth in a 1200m Mornington maiden. A fifth followed in a 1425m Geelong maiden in November before producing two encouraging performances at Wangaratta in December. A fourth and a third in two maidens over 1590m suggests that if Daniher – who will also benefit from a 3kg claim – salutes, a berth in the NT Guineas (1600m) may not be out of the question.
Next Best
Race 2 – #5 Daniher (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Kevin Lamprecht | J: Ianish Luximon (a)(55.5kg)
Bet with Neds
BEST VALU: RADIO ROOM
This eight-year-old gelding returns after a brief freshen up and is definitely among the chances in what should be a competitive race. In three hitouts in December, January and February, the son of Chatline managed three seconds behind three horses who were in pretty good form at the time. Radio Room succumbed to Delago Lad over 1100m (0-64) before finishing as the bridesmaid behind Phantom Court over 1100m (0-64) and Lethal Encounter – among the best horses currently running around in Alice Springs – over 1400m (0-64). Debuting in SA in 2019, where he failed to fire a shot in four starts, Radio Room has been a model of consistency in the Red Centre since his first start in February 2020 – 24 starts for seven wins, four seconds, three thirds and five fourths. In seven starts last year, he never once finished outside the top four and his last win was over 1600m (0-64) in July.
Best Value
Race 1 – #3 Radio Room (2)
8yo Gelding | T: Greg Connor | J: Jessie Philpot (59kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Saturday quaddie tips for Alice Springs races
Alice Springs quadrella selections
Saturday, April 1, 2023
- 1-3
- 1-7
- 6-7-8-10
- 2-3-4
Investment: $48 for 100%
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